NOTE: TOOL PROVIDED FOR BETA TESTING AND DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY (v49).

WAREHOUSE ESFR PLANNER

A COLLABORATION WITH

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Coordination

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➀ Column Spacing

Column spacing can be input using several methods. They can be inserted as the number of columns (15) at their spacing in feet (50) using the “at” sign (@) in-between (15@50). They can be inserted as spacings with commas in between (30,50,50,30). Or they can be a combination of both (3@45, 8@50, 3@45).

➁ Zones Quantity

This setting establishes the number of sprinkler system zones in each direction. Each zone is a separate system with a control valve, waterflow monitoring, and means of draining. Under NFPA 13, zones for storage areas are limited to a maximum of 40,000 sqft.

➂ Joist Loading

This table displays the load impact from all sprinkler system pipe. Uniform loads are presented in pounds per linear foot (plf), while concentrated point loads are presented in pounds (lb). The direction arrows (↕, ↔) indicate the direction of the pipe. The QTY indicates the approximate total linear feet (lf) of pipe. The number of joists lists how many joists are affected by these loads. Note that girder impacts are not indicated in this table but are also impacted by the weight of the sprinkler system and need to be accounted for in the structural design.

➃ Feed Mains

Read our section on Feed Mains here:

➄ Fire Pump

This setting designates whether a fire pump serves the building. It is currently non-selectable, as the assumptions within the tool assume that the available system pressure is in the range of 140-175 psi. Most ESFR systems have fire pumps serving the building or the water supply feeding the building. If the water supply to the site exceeds 100 psi at the system demand, consult with a Fire Protection Engineer or Fire Sprinkler Contractor to verify that reasonable pipe sizing can be achieved without a fire pump.

➅ Hazards

Read our section on Hazards here:

➆ Unique Hazards

This tool assumes that your project does not present unique, novel, or high-challenge fire scenarios. Examples of unique or challenging hazards could include rubber tires, lithium-ion batteries, and exposed expanded plastics. A Fire Protection Engineer can help make this determination for your project.

➇ Pipe Thickness

This setting establishes the thickness of the steel pipe for your project. Schedule 10 is commonly used for warehouses and is a reasonably conservative approximation even if a lighter schedule might be anticipated for a project.

➈ System Flow

This is a rough approximation of the anticipated system demand in gallons per minute (gpm), based on the approximate hazard and anticipated design criteria.

➉ Pipe Diameter

Read our section on Pipe Diameters here: